Who should check these details?

Strict vegan label-checker

You want to avoid egg, milk and other animal-derived ingredients. A vegan certification or checking the current ingredients and allergen information is essential for you.

Shopper who needs a sugar-free product

You’re looking for a product that genuinely meets the requirements for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. A smaller portion or a ‘reduced sugar’ label doesn’t give you enough information to be sure.

Looking for a soft vegan biscuit alternative

You’d prefer a ready-to-eat biscuit, but would consider baking your own if you can’t find a packaged product that meets both requirements.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing a packaged biscuit, check two things separately: first, whether it’s vegan, then how much sugar it contains. If you’d rather bake your own, check the recipe ingredients and the sugar content of the finished biscuit separately too.

Standard Dutch egg cake

When: Only if being vegan and sugar-free aren’t requirements.

Trade-off: The Dutch egg cakes from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje reviewed here contain egg; some also contain milk.

Packaged soft biscuit alternative

When: If you want a ready-to-eat biscuit and can check both requirements on the packaging.

Trade-off: A vegan label alone tells you nothing about how much sugar the product contains.

Bake your own vegan Dutch egg cakes

When: If you want to choose the ingredients yourself and have time to bake.

Trade-off: Keukenneusje’s vegan Dutch egg cake recipe uses apple purée instead of egg, but also contains sugar.

What to check What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Vegan suitability Look for the Vegan Quality Mark or V-Label Vegan, or carefully check the current ingredients and allergen information for egg and milk. I want to avoid animal-derived ingredients, even if a biscuit looks suitable at first glance. For around 38% of consumers, checking that a product is vegan is the top priority.
Sugar-free claim Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I’m looking for a sugar-free product, I don’t want to rely on a small portion or a ‘reduced sugar’ label. Around 38% of consumers prioritise checking sugar content.
Convenience or baking your own Decide whether you need a packaged biscuit. If you’re baking your own, read the whole recipe: a vegan recipe can still contain sugar. I want a soft biscuit I can eat straight away, but I can make time to bake my own. Convenience and having that alternative are the top priorities for around 24% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a standard Dutch egg cake is vegan

    The Dutch egg cakes from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje reviewed here contain egg; milk is also listed for some varieties.

    Don’t rely on the product name. Look for a vegan certification or check the current ingredients and allergen information.

  • Reading ‘reduced sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    A smaller portion or a statement about added sugar won’t tell you whether the biscuit meets the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with the maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g, the threshold for solid foods under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

  • Relying only on an online product description

    The ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging apply to the biscuit you actually buy. Lidl directs shoppers to the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of its food products.

    Check the label on the current packaging before you decide.

Brands to help you get started

These examples can help you assess the labels on Dutch egg cakes. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether other products from the same brand are suitable.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists its own-brand Dutch egg cakes, including a variety made with free-range eggs.

  • The product information lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g.
  • The varieties described contain egg and milk, so they aren’t vegan. Their stated sugar values also exceed the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists its own-brand Dutch egg cakes in a pack of four.

  • The product information lists ingredients, allergens and sugars per 100 g.
  • This variety contains barn eggs and milk protein. Jumbo lists 29,5 g of sugars per 100 g, so it doesn’t meet the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Bolletje

Bolletje makes Brosse Eierkoek varieties, including Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel.

  • Bolletje’s product information lets you check details such as the type of egg used.
  • The varieties described contain egg and milk ingredients. Bolletje also lists a sugar topping for Brosse Eierkoek.

Heerlijck Banket

ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Dutch egg cakes made with barn eggs in a pack of twelve.

  • The product description makes it clear that barn eggs are used.
  • This variety isn’t vegan because it contains egg. Check the nutritional information on the packaging for its sugar content.

Lidl

Lidl lists Dutch egg cakes as an in-store product with item number 6603410.

  • Use the item number to find the right pack in store.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the packaging before choosing a vegan or sugar-free product.

Related products on Joybuy

More related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are standard Dutch egg cakes vegan?

The Dutch egg cakes from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje reviewed here aren’t vegan: they contain egg, and milk is also listed for some varieties. For any other biscuit, always check the current packaging rather than relying on the name.

What does ‘sugar-free’ mean on a packaged biscuit?

Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid food can only carry the claim ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘Reduced sugar’ and ‘no added sugars’ don’t automatically mean the same thing; check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.

How can I check whether a biscuit is vegan?

Look for the Vegan Quality Mark or V-Label Vegan, or check the current ingredients and allergen information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends these certifications as a way to identify vegan products. For Dutch egg cakes, pay particular attention to egg and milk.

How can I assess Lidl’s Dutch egg cakes?

Check the packaging in store for the ingredients, allergens and sugars per 100 g. Lidl says this nutritional information for food products isn’t available in an online list.

Is a home-baked vegan Dutch egg cake sugar-free too?

No. Baking a vegan biscuit doesn’t automatically make it sugar-free. Keukenneusje’s vegan Dutch egg cake recipe uses apple purée instead of egg, but also contains white soft brown sugar and vanilla sugar. Check the ingredients and the sugar content of the finished biscuit separately.